Recently, MODERN SALON and SALON TODAY editors took a Beauty Pulse poll of salon owners and managers to find out how they are prepping for the holidays. Salon leaders report the most important factors in preparing for a successful holiday season are to: 

1. Plan, plan, plan (28%)
2. Sit down with my distributor partner to review gift packages and special offers (21%)
3. Be creative and fresh with promotions (19%)
4. Communicate the holiday plan and sales goals to my team (18%)
5. Be rigorous in pre-booking (7%)
6. Decorate early (4%)

Strong marketing is also critical, with almost 9 out of 10 (87%) of respondents finalizing a social media plan for holiday promotions in 2017.

While more than half (53%) of respondents say their salons will be fully stocked and decorated for maximum holiday service, retail and gift card sales by early November, another 31% intend to be set up sometime in October, to drive sales and help clients with early shopping and gift ideas.

Retail gift packages (63%), gift certificates (60%), salon tools (33%) and hair color (31%) lead the wish list of products and services salon owners and managers expect they will sell more of during Holiday 2017 than they did last season, with cosmetics, skin care, nail care and men’s products and services also targeted for strong growth.

Are you ready to capitalize on all of these opportunities during the salon’s busiest season? There is still time to make sure your Holiday 2017 business is merry and bright.

Inside this bonus gift issue from CosmoProf, Armstrong McCall and the brands they represent, you’ll find the latest holiday product and tool promotions, along with holiday service ideas, merchandising and marketing tips, and trending techniques in hair, skin, nails and more.

Take advantage of this special guide, along with all the resources at your disposal, including your distributor sales consultant or store professional. Review the list of actions that your peers identified as most important, along with your 2016 results and put your own “merry and bright” plan in motion. Then, be ready to enjoy your most prosperous season ever!

-Michele Musgrove, Associate Publisher and Editorial Director